Saturday, July 2, 2011

When I play with my cat, who knows if I am not a pastime to her more than she is to me? ~Montaigne, 1580

Oh boy, it's been way too long since I've posted. Between tendinitis, a new kitty, and watercolor class, I've had little opportunity to post anything. But I want to do a kitty update.

As I mentioned, I'm not a cat person, so I'm shocked at the amount of devotion this little bitty thing has evoked in me. I've been thinking about living an authentic life, and thinking how a kitty (or dog, or any non-human thing) lives authentically -- she plays when she wants to, sleeps when she wants to, is fairly unaffected by the opinions of others (except when she's on the dining room table), freely gives and receives affection, on her own terms, when she wants to. Of course, people also supply her with food, water, a cat tree, treats, toys galore . . . what's not to like about her life?

This is her favorite people-related way to sleep -- curled up on someone's chest. Sometimes she lies like a baby in my arms, or wraps her legs around my neck, so it looks like I'm wearing a fur collar. She's happy, and I'm happy too, because what is nicer than having something soft, warm, and furry on you, purring?

She is the most happy-go-lucky creature, a ball of energy, pouncing on our big cat, chasing little mice around the living room, leaping on and off the cat tree, racing from the armchair to the ottoman to the couch to the coffee table and back to the armchair again. And when she's exhausted herself, she drops --

and sleeps the sleep of the innocent.

She already knows that if someone gets up from the couch, there will be a warm spot where they were sitting. She knows that when the lights go out at night, it's time for her to go in her crate, and she starts the game of running and hiding until someone catches her. She knows that she can only push October (our adult cat) so far, then he will squish her and that's not fun, because he weighs 25 lb. and she weighs 2 or so. She's learning fast.

Anyway, it's a great feeling to have such a little creature happy to see you. She makes me very happy, too.

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comments:

(i received your print and did a post the other day on it, along with some other prizes i've won that all arrived on the same day! just wanted to let you know!! thank you!! i'll be searching for a frame on my next trip to the city!)

I love your posts about Kitty. she's simply fine and adorable too. my own three sisters are 14 and not so playful anymore. the gift arrived yesterday and it's on my wall behind me as I type this. thanks Elise, it's a wonderful expression of your heart, and that makes it a treasure.

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Elise Ann Wormuth

I am a retired college English professor who has reinvented herself as a fine art photographer, watercolor painter, and genealogist (among other things). I've spent my working life teaching other people to write, and now I will take some time to get back to writing myself.